Constanța is the natural base for exploring the Dobruja region and a stretch of the Black Sea coast.
The most rewarding short trip is to the small monastery of Histria, 70 km north, the ruins of the oldest Greek colony in present-day Romania, founded in the 7th century BC on the edge of the Razim lagoon. Equally worth a day is Murfatlar, 18 km west, the country's most important wine-growing region — most of the larger estates accept visitors with advance notice.
Other day-trip options include the long quiet beaches of Vama Veche and 2 Mai on the Bulgarian border (south, 60 km — book a car), the cliff-top monastery and bird sanctuary of Capul Caliacra just over the border in Bulgaria, and a boat trip to the Danube Delta from Tulcea (140 km north, requires an overnight).